Clara you have to do this, for your clan, for your pack and for your family. Those words my father had said to me rang as a bell in my ears, yes I knew I had to do it. I had to marry this alpha whom my sister was meant to marry, whether I liked it or not that was my fate. It was sealed. I could only hope that one day, I would be able to find my mate, or so I thought.
Breathe Clara, Breathe.
This dress made me feel like I was trapped in a tube.
I guess that's why it's called a tube–dress, my sister had insisted that the bridesmaids all came dressed in the attire for her wedding. It was quite hard being in the dress, almost to the same degree the meticulous task of actually putting on the dress.
A tight sleeveless dress, hugging my body in the right places and showing off my curves. It was for this singular reason Cassandra had opted for the tube dresses, she said the dress was capable of bringing out the sexiness in everyone, and she wasn't wrong.
It was a flowy satin, with a sleet that went up above my knee and a sweetheart neckline that dipped low enough to show an appropriate amount of cleavage.
"Clara, you better be down in a minute! The limousine leaves for the ceremony in fifteen minutes!" A loud yell from my mother shot from downstairs, her tone thoroughly dipped with urgency.
"Yes, Mother!" I responded and then returned my attention to the mirror, gazing at my flattering reflection in the mirror as an excited grin lit up my face. I was stunning, beautiful, and ready to serve as the chief bridesmaid at my sister's wedding.
Cassandra was getting married to the wealthy and feared Alpha of the Navarro Red Mood Pack, Roberto Blackwood. It was an arranged marriage in which The Alpha had paid a huge sum of money over Cassandra's head. My mother was never in support of this, but my father's desperate quest for money and power shut down her protests, and she was forced to go along with it.
The occasion had been rooted on the lips of everyone in our pack months before this, it was the talk of the town and the ceremony had been highly anticipated. Everyone was excited for it, especially my father who was elated and proud to be the in–law to an Alpha like Roberto.
A lot of preparations had been put into it, and a lot of money as well. Great Alphas from all over the territory would be in attendance, it was going to be rich and full of class courtesy of Alpha Roberto. I was bursting with excitement.
I was living my shiny, golden blonde hair one last brush before I went downstairs and that was when I first heard the voices. I stopped brushing, narrowing my eyes as I listened closer, it was the panicked voices of people arguing.
I sighed, "Not again." I said, rolling my eyes.
People had been fighting all day about the littlest of things today. From the flowers, the food, the sitting arrangement, the decorations - you just name it and someone would pin the slightest fault on it.
Most of the arguments usually involved my father, who was an utter perfectionist who wanted everything and everyone to be, well. . perfect.
The Alpha has assigned a lot of maids and helpers to come over to our house and help us prepare for the wedding. However, I was sick and tired of my father constantly nagging and rebuking them all day like it was HIS wedding.
I sometimes pitied them, the poor helpers unfortunately' straddled with the Herculean task of satisfying my father.
I was done brushing my hair and ready to head downstairs before another yell came from my mother again. I dropped the brush on my chair and was heading out of my bedroom when my door shot open, nearly knocking me down, and my mother rushed in.
There was a worried look etched on her face, staining her expression with confusion and a slight hint of fear.
"Mum, is anything the matter?" I asked as I regained my balance, the look on her face had also creased my forehead with a bit of worry.
Her eyes darted about my room as though she was searching for something, "Is she here? They said she was here." She spoke as her eyes came back to me, staring at me in panic.
" Who are you looking for?" I asked, my mind spiraling with thoughts as I wondered what was happening.
"It's your sister. We haven't seen her in about two hours now." She revealed, her tone was hitched and a clear indication of how she was desperately trying to hold herself together.
My brows furrowed immediately at her words, "What? Cassandra isn't in this house, how so?" I questioned, my mind streaming with numerous thoughts as the pacing of my heart increased.
"I– I don't know, Clara." She sniffled, her tears fogging up in her eyes and threatening to fall. "I spoke to her earlier today and she expressed how nervous and apprehensive she was about the wedding. I encouraged her and told her to go along with it, and-" Mum paused her words abruptly, her tears withstanding being held back as she began to cry and she leaned into me.
I embraced her, my hands on her back as I rubbed in pacification, "Mum, she's fine. Maybe she just had some pre-wedding jitters and is somewhere around the house. She couldn't have possibly disappeared on her wedding day." I soothed, trying to calm my crying mother but even I didn't believe my own words...
My mother wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, "I thought she was here with you, you're her best friend and not only a sister to her. So I felt she was here for some words of encouragement. But since she isn't..."
"She's fine, mum. Are you sure you've checked everywhere thoroughly? The garden, the balcony, the storerooms? Have you searched all the rooms?" I inquired as she stepped a foot away from me, breaking out of the embrace.
She nodded in affirmation, "Yes. We've searched everywhere. However, her bedroom is locked. We can't access it." She narrated and my eyes widened in horror at that.
"What the- she could be in there, mum! And possibly trying to do something stupid, we need to break down that door. Now." I spoke in urgency, immediately swinging the door open and dashing out of the bedroom. My mother's hand was in mine as we quickly rushed downstairs to Cassandra's bedroom.
My heart was beating in anxious thuds against my chest, I was scared-super scared. Cassandra was never aboard with this arranged marriage, but just like the rest of us, my father coerced her into it because of his quest for a share of the Alpha's wealth.
Now hearing that she had locked herself up in her bedroom, I feared that the worst might've happened. Was she just trying to avoid the wedding? Or had she done something reckless like hurting herself or...
I immediately shook the thought away, choosing to maintain positivity as we approached her door. As we got there, I saw other of our extended family members; my Aunt Anaya and Uncle Chris, and a few other maids and helpers for the wedding as well. One of the helpers had a hammer in his hand, his stance depicting that he was about to hit the door with it.
"Oh, Alicia, you're back." Aunt Anaya said, turning to face my mother. "We're breaking the door down with a hammer to get to her." She added and my mother nodded, her glassy eyes fixated on the door.
"Did she say anything? Did you hear any noises from inside?" I stepped forward and asked my aunt.
She shook her head in naught, "No, we haven't. But she must certainly be in there." My aunt said, giving a reassuring smile that I instantly spotted that it was forced, seeing the worry that lay underneath it.
The fact that they hadn't heard any sound from her room made me scared, my mind couldn't stop imagining the worst possible scenario and a shudder ran down my spine every time it did, finally, there was a small dent in the door.
"Quickly, unlock the door!" My mother urged and the helper nodded, inserting his hand through the hole and began opening the lock from inside.
Just then, my father's voice boomed through the hallway, alerting everyone and our heads turned towards his direction, "What's all the holdup? Alpha Roberto and his family are already at the ceremony ground? Can't you all hurry up?" He rebuked, his words emitting with harshness.
He came over to my mother, standing beside her, "Where is Cassandra, why is she taking up all our time?" He further inquired, his tone gruff and stern.
My mother sniffled, turning to look at her husband and answer his question. But it was at that moment the click of the door was heard as the helper had successfully unlocked the door.
It's open." Uncle Chris said and my mother's attention tore from my father as she dashed into the room first, the rest of us followed behind her and we entered as well.
"Casandra, are you okay dear?" My mother cried as she entered with urgency.
However, she was met with an utter surprise by the time she entered the bedroom. My heart dropped as I noticed that there was no trace of Cassandra anywhere. Each moment that went without Cassandra springing up from somewhere and saying all this was just a silly prank, doubled my apprehension and fear.
I stood there, frozen at the spot and unable to process everything that was happening. What had happened to Casandra?
"Wh–where is she?" I muttered under my breath, much too defeated to speak in anything more than a whisper.
"Oh, Casandra!" My mother let out a loud outcry, falling to the floor in a sprawl as she began to cry again.
"There's a letter on the bed." One of the maids identified, pointing at a white envelope on Cassandra's bed and our gazes moved to the letter. We had previously not noticed it. My heart sunk further deep into my stomach at the sight of it, especially when I noticed Cassandra's handwriting on it.
I was the closest to the bed, so I bent and with shaky hands, I picked up the envelope. I swallowed the lump in my throat and unraveled the letter from the envelope with hesitation.
"I'm sorry, I can't."
That was what the letter read. I had to go over those four words over and over again before fully grasping the meaning behind them – Cassandra wasn't going to get married to Roberto anymore. She ran off.
"Let me see that." The yanking of the letter away from my grasp jolted me out of my thoughts and I turned to see my father beside me, now reading through the letter.
His brows knitted together in confusion and then annoyance as he read through the letter, "Cassandra has run away? On the day of her wedding to Alpha Roberto?" My father growled in anger, squeezing the paper into his palms and crumpling it. His attention turned to my mother who was bawling her eyes out, "You see the child you raised, Alicia? You see the shame she wants to bring upon us?" He yelled in fury, and he had more to say but just before he could say anything, his phone began to ring.
He grunted in frustration before taking out the phone, the frown on his face deepened further when he saw who the caller was.
He answered the phone call, "Y–yes. We're on our way, just some minor things to take care of here and there. The bride will be here soon." My father replied and then he ended the phone call.
"Clara. Get in the wedding dress, you're getting married to Roman." He dictated, his voice measured with authority.
"WHAT?"
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ This Book Contains Matured Contents, reader's discretion is advised. *** "Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?" he asked as he stood to his feet. "Then why aren't you?" I responded, loving the feel of him pressed so close, my back to the mirror, my front to him. But even still, in some far corner of my lust-fogged mind, I realized that we were still in a bathroom. Anyone could walk in and see us. The thought of getting discovered was scary and erotic at the same time. "Oh, we're not done. Spread your legs a bit for me, Kitten." He commanded. When I did as he instructed, he settled between my legs again. "Now close your eyes. And try not to move." Dominic Rutherford murmured. I drew in a sharp breath as his fingers slipped into me with a silky, wet ease. First one. Then another. A feverish tide rose inside me, and I groaned. I jerked in response, causing me to unconsciously move my hips towards his teasing, clever hand, seeking more. "Ohh-" My body trembled under his touch. "Please..." *** Ruby escapes a stifling marriage filled with betrayal, eager to reclaim her freedom. At a masquerade ball, she meets Dominic, a mysterious older man always wearing a mask and has a complex past. Their intense attraction ignites a passionate and dangerous affair. Dominic, who was tasked by Ruby's unknown brother to find her, is captivated by her defiant spirit. As Ruby gets entangled in Dominic's dark world and faces threats from her vengeful former husband and an enemy within, she struggles with her fear of love. Will Ruby and Dominic overcome their pasts and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart? Can Ruby submit to love even after the truth is revealed?
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!